Coin

50 Dollars "American Gold Eagle" Bullion Coinage (2012) — United States

United States • 2012 • KM#219, Fr#B1, PCGS#9806, 9807, etc.

50 Dollars "American Gold Eagle" Bullion Coinage (2012) — United States

Overview

A Burnished Uncirculated 50 Dollars "American Gold Eagle" bullion coin from the United States, minted in 2012 at the West Point Mint. Features Standing Liberty on the obverse and a family of eagles on the reverse. Composed of Gold (.917) (Silver .030, Copper .053) with a mintage of 6,118 pieces. Struck as Burnished Unc.

Specifications

Country
United States
Year
2012
Composition
Gold (.917) (Silver .030, Copper .053)
Weight
33.931 g
Diameter
32.7 mm
Thickness
2.83 mm
Mint
United States Mint of West Point
Mintmark
W
Shape
Round
Technique
Milled
References
KM#219, Fr#B1, PCGS#9806, 9807, etc.
Issuer
United States

Design details

Obverse

Standing Liberty holding torch and olive branch Script: Latin Lettering: LIBERTY 2006 W ASG

Reverse

Family of eagles Script: Latin Lettering: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN GOD WE TRUST E PLURIBUS UNUM MB JW 1 OZ. FINE GOLD~50 DOLLARS Translation: United States of America In God We Trust Out of Many One MB JW 1 oz. Fine Gold ~ 50 Dollars

Collector insights

  • Design heritage: Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Miley Frost is credited as the designer for the Non-circulating coins series. Designer attribution helps distinguish this issue from later restrikes or unofficial copies that reuse only the motif.
  • Struck at: United States Mint of West Point (mintmark W). Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
  • Low mintage: Only 6,118 pieces reported. This puts the issue into key-date territory for its series; expect steep grade-based price scaling and a higher counterfeit risk — provenance and third-party grading matter.
  • Precious metal content: Gold (.917) (Silver .030, Copper .053) — bullion value provides a price floor, and many circulated examples were melted during the 1979–1980 and post-2010 silver spikes, reducing the surviving population.
  • Catalogue reference: Listed as KM#219, Fr#B1, PCGS#9806, 9807, etc.. Use this reference code when cross-checking auction archives, dealer inventories, and standard printed catalogues.

Curator Insights

Historical context

In 2012, the American Gold Eagle continued its role as the primary gold bullion program of the United States, produced under the authorization of the Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985. This specific burnished uncirculated release was targeted at collectors rather than investors, struck on specially prepared blanks at the West Point Mint. During this period, the U.S. Mint was managing fluctuating demand for precious metals following the global economic volatility of the prior years.

Design heritage

The obverse features the iconic Standing Liberty design by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, originally created for the 1907 Double Eagle and adapted for this series by U.S. Mint engravers. The reverse, designed by Miley Frost (formerly Busiek), depicts a male bald eagle carrying an olive branch to a nest containing a female and her hatchlings. This 'Family of Eagles' motif served as the signature reverse for the series from its inception in 1986 through the mid-2021 design transition.

Varieties and technical notes

This 2012 issue features the 'W' mint mark on the obverse, identifying its origin at the West Point facility. As a burnished uncirculated strike, it possesses a matte-like finish distinct from both standard bullion and high-luster proof versions. Collectors should examine the reeded edge for uniform consistency and check the fields for any post-production contact marks typical of handled collector sets.

Survival and modern availability

With a confirmed mintage of only 6,118 pieces, this specific burnished date is significantly scarcer than the standard bullion version of the same year. Its survival rate is relatively high in top grades because these coins were sold in protective encapsulates directly to collectors. While not subject to the mass melting common with historical currency, its availability is strictly limited by the low initial production volume.

More from United States

Other 50 Dollars "American Gold Eagle" Bullion Coinage issues

Explore more

Browse more items in the full catalog or view United States in the country guide.